HOUSE lawmakers from the Akbayan Reform Bloc on Monday filed a series of health reform measures aimed at expanding access to quality healthcare for vulnerable sectors, particularly senior citizens and indigent Filipinos.
Akbayan Party-list filed House Bill No. 6833, or the proposed Philippine Geriatric Center Act, which seeks to establish a specialized center dedicated to the comprehensive healthcare needs of elderly Filipinos. The group also filed House Bill No. 6835, or the Health Outreach for Seniors and Indigent Program, designed to bring essential medical services closer to poor and underserved communities.
For Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, public funds should benefit the most vulnerable Filipinos, such as senior citizens and the indigent: “After nating makita yung laki ng pondong kinokorap ng mga tiwali, hindi na uubra ang palusot na kapos ang pera ng gobyerno para sa essential health services — lalung-lalo na para sa mga mahihirap at sa ating mga lolo at lola.”
“Palaging sinasabi sa atin na ‘tatanda rin kayo.’ In filing these bills, we recognize na tatanda rin ang karamihan sa atin, at lahat tayo ay makikinabang kung may maaayos na public health facilities and services para sa katandaan,” he added.
For Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao such measures would ensure improved access to healthcare especially for residents in far-flung or isolated areas, “Para sa amin sa Dinagat Islands, napakahalaga ng health reform bills na ito para mas mapalakas pa ang mga serbisyong pangkalusugan sa mga mamamayan, lalo na sa mga nakatira sa geographically isolated areas.”
“Mas maisasakatuparan natin ang pangarap natin na maramdaman ng bawat Pilipino na walang maliit, walang malayo, at lahat mahalaga pag dating sa ating karapatan sa accessible healthcare,” she added.
Strengthening measures against hospital detentions pushed
The Bloc also refiled House Bill 6832, or the Anti-Hospital Detention Amendment Bill, seeking to strengthen existing measures under Republic Act No. 9439 by increasing penalties for violations of the law and establishing an Anti-Hospital Detention Fund to partially cover unpaid promissory notes issued by indigent patients.
“Kailangang dagdagan ng pangil ang batas para tuldukan ang paglabag sa karapatang pantao ng mga pasyente,” said Akbayan Rep. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno.
“Pumupunta ang ating mga pasyente sa mga ospital para magpagaling, hindi magpakulong. Ang pagdedetain ng mga pasyenteng indigent ay paglabag sa sinumpaan ng mga health professionals na ‘Do No Harm’,” Rep. Dadah Ismula said.
“Kailangang palakasin pa ang ating Anti-Hospital Detention Law para sa rights at welfare ng ating mga kababayang walang-wala sa buhay. Indigent patients need assistance not condemnation,” Rep. Ismula said.
The Akbayan Reform Bloc legislators also filed House Bill 6836 or the “Comprehensive Lupus Prevention Act” and House Bill 6834 or the Healthy Food Environment Bill as part of the health reform bills.
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